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April 22, 2009 Welcome to Texas Gardener’s Seeds, the weekly newsletter for Texas gardeners. Please do not reply to this e-mail as the sending address is not monitored. See the bottom of this newsletter for information on how to subscribe, unsubscribe, or contact the editor. |
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Cold-hardy tropicals add flair to ordinary gardens Tropical plants are
popping up in botanical gardens with increasing frequency, as garden
designers use unusual plants to add dashes of color and flair to
otherwise ordinary gardens.
That's fine for the lucky
folks in the Rio Grande Valley, where nighttime temperatures rarely get
close to freezing. But what about the rest of us Texans who deal with
frigid winters? Tropical plants are, well, tropical. They do not like
cold weather. If left in the ground to overwinter, the typical tropical
plant will die a quick and permanent death. And who has time to dig up
delicate tropical plants each fall and baby them all winter long so they
can be replanted next spring?
That's where cold-hardy
tropical plants can come to the rescue.
It may sound like an
oxymoron, but cold-hardy tropicals really do exist. According to Byron
Martin, co-owner of Logee's Tropical Plants (www.logees.com), there are
several varieties of plants that are thought of as "tropical" that can
easily survive USDA Zone 5 and 6 winters.
"Tropical plants can give
a garden a unique look and feel," said Martin. "Cold-hardy tropical
plants offer visual interest and variety with the added benefit of being
tolerant of most winter climates. There is nothing quite as wonderful as
introducing the large leaves, vibrant flowers and delicious fruits of
tropical plants into a North American garden." Martin's list of must-have
cold-hardy tropical plants for American gardens includes the seven
plants described below. "Don't be afraid to plant something new,"
encourages Martin. "It's time to go beyond petunias and mums."
Passiflora incarnata
'Maypop'
Passion Flowers are
delightfully exotic, with showy flowers that nearly shout out their
tropical heritage. But 'Maypop' passion flower is actually native to
North America, and it can handle a tough Zone 5 winter and come back
strong the next spring. Like all Passion Flowers, 'Maypop' is
easy-to-grow, and its vining habit can be trained to cover a trellis or
climb up a fence or pole. Delightfully fragrant, three-inch wide flowers
with creamy pinkish lavender petals in a fully banded corolla appear
throughout the summer. The flowers develop into succulent fruit. This is
the hardiest of the Passion Flowers, growing successfully as far north
as New England.
Musa basjoo (Hardy
Banana)
With this Hardy Banana
you'll get a defining tropical look. And, yes with proper mulching, this
tough plant can withstand temperatures below zero. This extremely
vigorous banana grows several feet tall in a single season and in time
forms large clumps that can reach up to 13 feet in height. Also known as
the Japanese Fiber Banana, Musa basjoo makes a fine container specimen.
If grown inside, it is easy to grow and will tolerate varying conditions
of temperature and light with ease. Although it does produce bananas,
they are not edible. Simple to grow, give it plenty of water, fertilizer
and sunlight.
Gardenia jasminoides
'Frostproof'
A cold-hardy gardenia that
is also deer-proof sounds like a gardener's dream come true. 'Frostproof' is a prolific bloomer of fragrant, pinwheel-shaped 3-inch
flowers. Easy-to-grow and bloom, this new cultivar has a distinctive cup
in the middle of the blossom, and the blooming season lasts from spring
to fall. The plant has a nice symmetrical upright form with very
attractive narrow green foliage that is about half the size of standard
gardenia leaves. 'Frostproof' can be maintained at a compact 12-14
inches tall in a pot, but grows to about 3 feet tall outdoors. It
requires moist, somewhat acidic, soil and full to partial sun. As the
name implies, it is more tolerant of early frosts. Hardy to zone 6.
Clerodendrum bungeii
(Rose Glory Bower)
This hardy Clerodendrum
bungei with its flamboyant large umbels of rose-pink flowers can be
grown inside as a potted showpiece or outside in your summer garden. The
fragrant flowers appear spring through fall. Vigorous and easy-to-grow,
the semi-herbaceous shrub has large, deep-green leaves and intricate
pink globe-like flowers. The plant often dies back to the ground in
winter, but comes back strongly in spring. In fact, the underground root
system is invasive so the plant will spread unless kept in check. Prune
when it gets too large and it will come back to fullness. Mulch in
winter for Zone 6 hardiness.
Jasminum officinale
(Hardy Jasmine)
This reliable and hardy
species adds a sweet and enchanting fragrance to any outdoor garden. For
a stellar performance, this vigorous climber needs a cold period to
initiate bloom. Hardy to Zone 6 in a sheltered spot, the cold of winter
brings this deciduous vine into a constant flow of sweet fragrant
flowers right through the growing season. This is not a plant for a warm
sunny window or a warm greenhouse, as it needs cold night temperatures
down to freezing and below to realize its full potential. Hardy jasmine
is a perfect plant to grow near a home's entryway, so you can breathe in
the heavenly scent of jasmine from late spring to fall.
Ficus carica
'Chicago Hardy'
This edible fig can take
sub-freezing temperatures die back in the fall and re-sprout in the
spring. The medium-sized fruit ripens to a delicious sweetened in late
summer and early fall. Also known as 'Bensonhurst Purple,' this tough,
easy-to-grow plant traces its origins back to Sicily. It is officially
cold hardy to Zone 6, although some Zone 5 gardeners have successfully
grown it, too. For north Texas and Panhandle gardeners, mulch this plant
heavily with hay or leaves when dormant. Ficus carica is also an
excellent container plant.
Passiflora caerula
'Clear Sky'
Passion flowers are so
delightfully distinctive and make such a major "tropical" statement that
Martin simply had to include two passion flowers on his list of
cold-hardy favorite plants. Passiflora caerula is a famous
passion flower species, but 'Clear Sky' is an improvement upon the
original. This variety shows greater vigor than the standard caerulea
and the flowers are an inch larger and much heavier in appearance. Each
of the beautiful flowers carries a pristine clear light-blue color
around the corolla. And, of course, it has the delightful fragrance of
Passion Flowers, and the same vining habit. 'Clear Sky' is a tetraploid
hybrid created by Roland Fischer of Hemer, Germany. It is not as cold
hardy as Passiflora incarnata 'Maypop,' but it can easily survive
a Zone 7 winter (and probably colder in a protected spot). |
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Texas Forest Expo offers overview of seminar helping reconnect families with nature Texas Forest Service
Every week, Tracy Adams
and her two young boys spend about an hour at the playground just a few
blocks from their College Station home.
Sometimes, they work
together in the small garden planted in their backyard.
And even while just
driving around, Adams and her children try to take the time to notice
and enjoy the sound of the birds and the color of the leaves.
But that wasn't always
the case. The change came after attending a Nature Realized seminar.
Created by Texas Forest Service, the course helps families get back
outside and reconnect with nature. "I showed up to the
first day with my kids in tow — both had Happy Meal boxes and Game Boys
in their hands," Adams said, laughing. "We were the poster children. It
was kind of embarrassing." An overview of the
Nature Realized: Connecting Your Children to the Land seminar series
will be offered 11 to 11:45 a.m. Sunday, April 26, as part of Texas
Forest Expo 2009. The three-day event is being held at the Lone Star
Conference Center in Conroe.
The annual Texas Forest
Expo is designed for all landowners — whether they have just one tree in
their backyard or thousands. It offers free classes in wildfire
prevention, land management and lawn and garden maintenance, as well
live demonstrations, more than 60 information booths and an indoor
forest maze for the kids. The Nature Realized
program was created by Angie Soldinger, conservation education
coordinator for Texas Forest Service, as a way to get parents and
children talking about the importance of nature — and back outside
together. Soldinger has presented the six-part series more than a
half-dozen times to church congregations, school organizations and
community groups. "We're just seeing more
and more children staying indoors and not reaping the benefits of
nature," Soldinger said. "From an agency perspective, the less children
are getting outdoors and getting that connection to nature, the less
likely they'll be concerned about the environment as adults. "We're looking at
creating a generation of environmental stewards in the future." For more information
about Texas Forest Expo, visit
http://texasforestexpo.tamu.edu. There you can find detailed
information about the expo, as well as a class schedule and directions
to the event. Also available: an eight-page informational magazine and
pre-recorded public service announcements in English and Spanish. |
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Gardening tips
"To keep your
chives from spreading too far, plant them in your raised garden in a
cinder block," writes Gillien Oliver. "The block has two perfectly sized holes for a smaller
garden and can be easily moved later if not sunken into the garden
itself. The blocks also work for other herbs as well as
strawberries and other vegetables."
Have a favorite gardening tip you’d like to share? Texas Gardener’s Seeds is
seeking brief gardening tips from Texas gardeners to use in future
issues. If we publish your tip in Seeds,
we will send you a free copy of Texas Gardener's 2009 Planning
Guide & Calendar. Please send your tips of 50 words or less to
the editor at:
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Did You Know...
Early settlers to our country nicknamed daisy fleabane or costmary Chrysanthermum balsamita the "Bible plant" because its balsam-scented leaves were used as Bible markers by the Puritans. Costmary has been used since medieval times to protect books from insects. |
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Upcoming garden events
Rockport: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host Kids Garden Fest from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturday, April 25, for children ages 4-12. A sack lunch will be provided. Parental supervisor required. Kids Garden Fest will be held at Green Acres, Children's Discovery Garden, 6111 Mimosa, Rockport. In the event of rain, the event will move to the Arasas County Library, 701 Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Wichita Falls: The Benson Iris Society will hold their spring iris show on Saturday, April 25. “When Iris Eyes Are Shining” is the theme. The show will be at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 4605 Cypress Avenue, Wichita Falls. Iris growers are invited to enter up to 15 specimens in the competition Saturday morning from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. The varieties must be named varieties. Vases will be provided for the exhibitions. The entry categories include Tall Bearded Iris, Medians, Arils and Arilbreds, Historical Irises (those introduced 30 or more years ago), Space Age (horned, spooned or with flounces) and Beardless Irises. Collections and English Boxes may also be entered. Members of the Benson Iris Society may also enter Artistic Design arrangements. Judging begins at 11 a.m. The show will be open to the public from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. and is free. For additional information, call Deborah Rutledge, Benson Iris Society President, (940) 569-0922 or Annetta Reusch, Benson Iris Society Vice-President, (940) 592-9001. Woodway: A Gardener's Gathering will be held at the Carleen Bright Arboretum, Woodway, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., April 26. The free event, sponsored by Woodway Beautiful, will include an opportunity to gather growing tips and advice, purchase plants, and enjoy an afternoon of music and events for the entire family. For additional information, contract (254) 399-9204. Fredericksburg: The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will present a "Vine Nutrition and Canopy Management" advanced wine-grape grower workshop from 1-5 p.m. April 27. The workshop will be held at the Pierce’s Disease Research Center vineyard. The center is located at 191 Business Court Drive, Fredericksburg. Topics related to producing quality fruit for quality wine will be presented by Penny Adams, AgriLife Extension’s Hill County viticulture advisor, and Fritz Westover, the agency’s Texas Gulf Coast viticulture advisor. Adams will present information on grapevine nutrition, petiole sampling and fertilization techniques. Westover will demonstrate grapevine canopy management techniques. Experienced grape growers are the target audience for the advanced workshops, but that new commercial wine-grape growers can also benefit from attending. The Vine Nutrition and Canopy Management workshop fee is $20, and attendees must register for the event. Registration can only be made through AgriLife Conference Services at their Web site, http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu, or by calling (979) 845-2604. Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Insect Control," Noon-1 p.m., April 27, at the Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Helen Boatman will speak. Free to public. Bring sack lunch. For additional information, contact Victoria County Extension Office, (361) 575-4581. Fredericksburg: A Texas AgriLife Extension Service-sponsored “Prospective Wine-Grape Growers Workshop” for Central Texas is scheduled for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on April 28. The workshop will be presented at the AgriLife Extension office, Gillespie County Agriculture Building, 95 Frederick Road, in Fredricksburg. Workshop topics include: necessary viticulture expertise, vineyard site selection, risk factors, vineyard labor requirements and vineyard economics. Penny Adams, Texas AgriLife Extension's Hill County viticulture advisor, and Fritz Westover, AgriLife Extension’s Texas Gulf Coast viticulture advisor, will provide the program instruction. The prospective growers workshop is a prerequisite for registration and acceptance into the Texas Tech Viticulture Certificate Program. Cost for the workshop is $125 per person or $200 per couple, and includes educational materials and lunch. Registration can only be made through AgriLife Conference Services at their Web site, http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu, or by calling (979) 845-2604. Austin: Travis County Master Gardeners Association will present "Creating a Wildlife Garden," May 2, from 10 a.m. until noon, at Hampton Branch, Austin Public Library, 5125 Convict Hill Rd., Austin. This seminar will teach you how to build a habitat that is more attractive to beautiful songbirds, butterflies, frogs, and other beneficial wildlife. Using native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees will increase the beauty of your property, protect the environment, and provide a nurturing refuge for all types of animals. Requirements for building a certified wildlife habitat will also be covered. For more details, see http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600. Tyler: 2009 Home Garden Tour, sponsored by the Smith County Master Gardeners, will be held May 2, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Five delightful homes, ranging from a large formal traditional garden in an historic neighborhood to a modest home in a country setting, spotlight a variety of landscaping styles and methods. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the tour. To order tickets: make checks payable to SCMG and mail to 14608 Foxwood Circle, Tyler TX 75703. Aransas/San Patrico Counties: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host a Hidden Gardens Tour, Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Explore eight beautiful gardens in Aransas and San Patricio Counties. $10 per person. Tickets may be purchased at Green Acres, 611 E. Mimosa, Rockport, and at Greens N Things, 801 Moore Ave., Portland. For additional information, e-mail ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club will host its tenth annual Spring Garden Tour on Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour, which is open to the public, will highlight eight delightful gardens in the Sugar Land area and feature diverse gardening styles. Tickets are $12 to view all eight gardens or $3 for a single garden and are available for purchase at any of the gardens. For a listing of all addresses and a map to the gardens, visit www.sugarlandgardenclub.org or call (281) 491-9609. Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Rainwater Harvesting," Noon-1 p.m., May 11, Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Glen and Kathy Chilek will speak. Free to public. Bring sack lunch. For additional information, contact Victoria County Extension Office, (361) 575-4581. Georgetown: The Native Plant Society of Texas, Williamson County Chapter meets from 7 to 9 pm on the second Thursday of each month at the Georgetown Library, 402 W 8th St., Georgetown. On Thursday, May 14, Kelly Conrad Bender of Texas Parks and Wildlife, and author with Noreen Damude of Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife, will speak on creating wildscapes and how you can get the latest information, since the book is now out of print. Fort Worth: The Greater Fort Worth Herb Society's Annual Herb Festival will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., May 16, at the Fort Worth Botanic Center, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. For additional information, call (817) 874-6405, e-mail festival@gfwhs.org, or visit www.gfwhs.org. Rockwall: The 2009 Tour of Gardens sponsored by the Rockwall County Master Gardener Association will be held May 16 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. This year the tour features four private gardens with a variety of styles, two local business gardens and the ever growing and changing Rockwall County Discovery Garden. Tour addresses and a map will be on the tickets. This is an at-your-leisure tour. Tour the gardens in any order you choose, just be sure to leave enough time to visit all the gardens before they close at 2 p.m.! Tickets are on sale at American National Bank, all Rockwall branches; Calloway's in Mesquite; Covington's in Rowlett; Culver's Restaurant in Rockwall; Homesley's in Forney; Land Art, Landscape Source and North Texas Waterscape, all in Rockwall. Tickets are also available at the County Extension Office, 1350 East Washington Street, Rockwall, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. (closed noon until 1 p.m. for lunch), as well as any Rockwall County Master Gardener. For more information, call (972) 204-7660 or visit http://rockmga.org. Victoria: The Victoria County Master Gardeners Association will hold its 2009 Annual Garden Tour May 16, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and May 17, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Six beautiful gardens which extend into home living areas will be featured. Tickets are $15 per person and may be ordered by check payable to VCMGA and addressed to Victoria County AgriLife Office, 442 Foster Field Dr., Victoria, TX 77904. For additional information about locations and the May 16 tour plant sale, call the AgriLife Office at (361) 575-4581. Houston: Tour the working and demonstration gardens maintained by the Harris County Master Gardeners at Precinct 2 on Open Garden Day, Monday, May 18, 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., at Genoa Friendship Garden, 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Houston. Visit a wonderful garden that includes an extensive vegetable garden, fruit orchard, perennials, roses, herb and cactus gardens and two working greenhouses. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer gardening questions during this free event. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Bring 1 gallon or smaller plastic plant pots and trays to re-cycle and the Master Gardeners will put them to good use. For more information, visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu. Rockport: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host "Composting the Easy Way," presented by Russell Bell, Master Gardener, as one of their Brown Bag events, from noon until 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, at the Aransas County Library, 701 Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Greenville: The Hunt County Master Gardeners Town and Country Tour will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. May 30 at Heritage Garden, 2217 Washington St., Greenville. In the event of rain, the event will be held June 6. For additional information, visit www.huntcountymastergardeners.com or call (903) 455-9885. Rockport: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host "Rainwater Harvesting," a seminar presented by Karen Ivey, Administrator, San Patricio Municipal Water District, from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 1.m., Saturday, June 6, at the Old Rockport School,, 619 N. Live Oak, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Essentials for Building a Trellis, Arbor and Raised Beds," Noon-1 p.m., June 8, at the Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Ed Gregurek will speak. Free to public. Bring sack lunch. For additional information, contact Victoria County Extension Office, (361) 575-4581. Austin: Travis County Master Gardeners Association will present "Rainwater Harvesting for Your Garden," Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. until noon at Riverplace Country Club, 4207 River Place Blvd., Austin. Enjoy a free seminar concentrating on capturing rainwater and lowering water usage in your landscape. This session will teach you all the basics on building a non-potable rainwater harvesting system. In addition, learn about rain gardens which capture valuable rainwater in your landscape. Vendors representing tank and gutter companies will be available to answer specific questions. City of Austin representatives will be available to answer permit and rebate questions. This seminar is free and open to the public and does not require reservations. For more details, visit http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600. Austin: The Travis County Master Gardeners Association are hosting "Becoming A Garden Detective: Diagnosing Plant Problems," from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., June 16, at Steiner Ranch Towne Square Community Center, 12550 Country Trails Lane, Austin. Just when you think you've done everything right by your plants, one of them starts to go downhill. One of the biggest challenges for gardeners is correctly diagnosing plant problems and finding effective, safe solutions. Is your plant dying because of an insect, environmental or disease problem? Learn the causes of plant problems, the process for diagnosing plant problems, and preventive garden management techniques. This class is free and open to the public. A plant clinic will run during the seminar to help you diagnose current problems so please bring samples of problem plants. For more information, visit http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600. Rockport: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host "Weeds to Watch For," presented by Lonnie Matthew, Master Gardener, as one of their Brown Bag events, from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 16, at the Aransas County Library, 701 Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Quitman: The Friends of the Arboretum is hosting a photography contest to promote and document the natural resources, history and beauty of Wood County. Both amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to participate in this contest. Photographers are to submit electronic images of flowers, native plants, landmarks, architectural elements, and landscapes that depict one of the four seasons in Wood County. Images must have been taken within Wood County, and within the last two years. These photographs will be used by the Friends of the Arboretum various print and electronic media to be distributed at various venues and displayed on the Friends' website. First prize winners in each class will receive a professionally printed 11 X 14 canvas of their original work, which will be donated by jeb Originals in Winnsboro. Second and third place winners will each receive a ribbon. And, all prize winners will receive recognition from the display of their work in various venues and forums. Classes are: Adult Amateur, Adult Professional, Student Senior Division (Ages 17 to 14), and Student Jr. Division (age 13 and younger). There is no entry fee, but all entries must be accompanied by the completed official entry form, which can be downloaded at http://woodcountyarboretum.com. Entries must be received prior to midnight on July 1. Contestants may enter as many times as they wish, but a separate official entry form must be included for each entry. The Gov. Hogg Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, located in Quitman, is a 23-acre site dedicated to gardens, walking trails and the preservation of historic buildings. The development of the site is ongoing with volunteer help from Wood County Master Gardens, local garden clubs, various civic organizations and the generosity of the area businesses. The Friends of the Arboretum is a non-profit group dedicated to raising funds and volunteering time in support of the development of the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. For additional information, contact Pam Riley at (903) 967-2820 or email friendsarboretum@yahoo.com. Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Water Gardening," Noon- 1p.m., July 13, at the Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Pat Plowman will speak. Free to public. Bring sack lunch. For additional information, contact Victoria County Extension Office, (361) 575-4581. Austin: The Austin Pond Society will host the 2009 Pound Tour July 18 and 19. Approximately 15 ponds will be included in the tour on Saturday and another 15 on Sunday. For additional information, visit www.austinpondsociety.org. Rockport: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host "Xeriscape Gardening with Native Plants," presented by Karen Ivey, Administrator, San Patricio Municipal Water District, as one of their Brown Bag events, from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, at the Aransas County Library, 701 Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Mulching, Composting and Water Conservation," Noon-1 p.m., August 10, at the Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Monica Pilat will speak. Free to public. Bring sack lunch. For additional information, contact Victoria County Extension Office, (361) 575-4581. Schertz: The next Guadalupe County Master Gardener training class is for anyone with a love for gardening and a desire to learn more about horticulture. Classes are on Wednesday August 12 to December 9th from 6:15 p.m. until 9:15 p.m. and two Saturdays at the Schertz Civic Center, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz. Instructors include Texas A&M AgriLife Extension specialists, staff and local experts, including Malcolm Beck, Patty Leander and Drs. Larry Stein and Mark Black. Topics include botany and plant growth, entomology, Xeriscaping, propagation, herbs and vegetables, tree care and pruning principles, composting and organic horticulture, water conservation and much more. Registration is $170 with a 10% discount if received by June 10, and $125 for 2nd household member if sharing a handbook. Payment plan also available. For more information, an application and a list of speakers, please email gsammermann@gvec.net or call (830) 372-4690. Applications are also available on our Web site at www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org. MONTHLY MEETINGS Rockport: The Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners meets at 9 a.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the AgriLife Extension Office - Aransas County, 611 E. Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail aransas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Kilgore: Northeast Texas Organic Gardeners meets at 10 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Wildwood Eco-Farm in Kilgore. For more information, call Carole Ramke at (903) 986-9475. Allen: The Allen Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, February through December, at the Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main St., Allen. For more information, visit www.allengardenclub.org. Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners meet at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. For more information, visit www.main.org/aog. Pearland: The second Tuesday of each month the Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold a free evening educational program for the public, called the Green Thumb Series, at Bass Pro Shop, Highway 288 at Sam Houston Tollway, Pearland. For more information visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu or call (281) 991-8437. Schertz: The Guadalupe County (Schertz/Seguin) Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Guadalupe County Annex, 1101 Elbel Road, Shertz. A plant exchange and meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by a program at 7. For additional information or an application to join NPSOT, contact guadalupecounty@npsot.org. NOTE: The April meeting date and location have changed. The April meeting will be held Tuesday, April 14, at the Antique Rose Emporium, 7561 E. Evans Road, San Antonio. Robbi Will, former commercial plant nursery manager, will present a program on propagating native plants. As usual, the program begins at 7 p.m., followed by a short business meeting. Rockport: The Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the second Wednesday of each month, with the exceptions of June and July, to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation, meets at 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport at 10 a.m. Sometimes they take field trips and have cooking demonstrations in different locations. For more information, contact Linda (361) 729-6037, Ruth (361) 729-8923 or Cindy (979) 562-2153 or visit www.rockportherbs.com. Brownwood: Brown County Master Gardeners Association meets the second Thursday of each month, from Noon to 1 p.m., at the Brown County AgriLife Extension Office, 605 Fisk, Brownwood. For additional information, call Freda Day (325) 643-1077, or Mary Engle (325) 784-8453. San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels (corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels). For more information on programs, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org. College Station: The A&M Garden Club meets on the second Friday of each month during the school year at 9:30 a.m. at the Senior Circle Rooms, College Station Professional Building II, 1651 Rock Prairie Road, College Station. Expert speakers, plant sharing, and federated club projects help members learn about gardening in the Brazos Valley, floral design, conservation topics, and more. For more information, visit www.sallysfamilyplace.com/Clubs/GardenClub.htm. Dallas: The Rainbow Garden Club of North Texas meets the second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Meetings are held at member’s homes and garden centers around the area. For more information, visit www.RainbowGardenClub.com. Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September through November and January through April at 10 a.m. at the Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way, Sugar Land. The club hosts a different speaker each month. For more information, visit www.sugarlandgardenclub.org.Denton: The Denton Organic Society, a group devoted to sharing information and educating the public regarding organic principles, meets the third Wednesday of each month (except July, August and December) at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Avenue. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are preceded by a social at 6:30. For more information, call (940) 382-8551. Glen Rose: The Somervell County Master Gardeners meet at 10 a.m., the third Wednesday of each month at the Somervell County AgriLife Extension office, 1405 Texas Drive, Glen Rose. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call (254) 897-2809 or visit www.somervellmastergardener.org. Granbury: The Lake Granbury Master
Gardeners meet at 1 p.m. on the third
Wednesday of each month at the Hood County Annex 1, 1410 West
Pearl Street, Granbury. The public is invited to attend. There is an
educational program each month preceding the business meeting. For
information on topics call (817) 579-3280 or visit
http://www.hoodcountymastergardeners.org/.
Seabrook: The Harris
County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10
a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at The Meeting Room
at Clear Lake Park (on the Lakeside), 5001 NASA Road 1, Seabrook. The
programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.
Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas — Houston (NPSOT-H) meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month except for October (4th Thursday) and December (2nd Thursday). Location varies. For locations, for more information on programs, and for information about native plants for Houston, visit http://www.npsot.org/Houston. Rosenberg: The Fort Bend Master Gardeners meet at 7:15 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month except December at the Bud O’Shieles Community Center located at 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg. For more information, call (281) 341-7068 or visit www.fbmg.com. Seguin: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners meets the third Thursday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension Bldg. at 210 E. Live Oak at 7 p.m. For more information, phone (830) 379-1972 or visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org. Longview: The Northeast Texas chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets the third Thursday of each month at St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Longview. For more information, call Logan Damewood at (903) 295-1984. Edna: The Jackson County Master Gardeners present their "Come Grown With Us" seminars on the fourth Tuesday of each month, January through October, beginning at 7 p.m. at 411 N. Wells, Edna. The seminars are free, open to the public and offer 2 CEU hours to Master Gardeners or others requiring them. For additional information, contact the Jackson County Extension Office at (361) 782-3312. Fort Worth: The Organic Garden Club of Forth Worth meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month except July and December at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens main building. Refreshments are served. For more information, call (817) 274-8460. Dallas: The Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 6:45 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Fretz Park Recreation Center, located at the corner of Hillcrest and Beltline Road in Dallas. For more information, call (214) 824-2448 or visit www.dogc.org. Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (except November and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact David at (817) 483-7746. If you would like your organization’s events included in "Upcoming Garden Events," please contact us at Garden Events. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details at least three weeks prior to the event. |
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The Southern Kitchen
Garden
By William D. Adams and Thomas R. Leroy A kitchen garden, or potager, is a
celebration of the seasons: brimming with vegetables, herbs, flowers,
and even fruit trees, it’s our link with nature and a source for fresh
produce. The kitchen garden has always been an important part of life in
the rural South, at times meaning the difference between being well-fed
or going to bed hungry. In recent times, the kitchen garden has become
more fashionable and now more and more homeowners are reaping the
delicious rewards of growing their own food.
A kitchen garden needs little more than a
small raised bed, so an aspiring gardener with only a modest backyard
will have plenty of room to get started. If you have more space on your
hands, then you can include some produce requiring a little more space
like fruit trees, corn or pumpkins.
In the book, the authors with take you
through the process of starting your very own kitchen garden from
location to soil preparation to planting and then to harvest. It is also
loaded with useful information on propagation, pest control and is laced
with mouth-watering recipes and beautiful color photographs.
$21.30 plus shipping*
Order online with credit card at
www.texasgardener.com or call toll-free 1-800-727-9020.
*Or with credit card by phone and receive
FREE shipping. That is a $3.50 savings! Visa, MasterCard and Discover
accepted. |
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Wish you’d saved
them?
Are you missing an important issue of
Texas Gardener? Or, perhaps, just tired of thumbing through stacks
of back issues looking for the tips and techniques you need to make your
garden grow? These new CDs provide easy access to all six issues of Order by calling 1-800-727-9020.
(Discover, MasterCard and Visa accepted.)
*Other volumes will be available soon. |
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Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac
Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac is a giant monthly calendar for
the entire state — a practical, information-packed, month-by-month guide
for gardeners and "yardeners." This book provides everything you need to
know about flowers and garden design; trees, shrubs, and vines; lawns;
vegetable, herb, and fruit gardening; and soil, mulch, water, pests, and
plant care. It will help you to create beautiful, productive, healthy
gardens and have fun doing it.
$26.63 plus shipping*
Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or
order on-line.
*Mention
Texas Gardener’s Seeds when ordering by phone and we’ll waive shipping charges. (Discover, MasterCard and Visa
accepted.) |
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Fiber row cover
valuable year-round
Grow-Web encourages plant growth and development, and also provides
protection from insects, birds, diseases and frosts. It is also air and
water permeable and allows for ventilation. Grow-Web provides excellent
protection to seedlings when applied directly to the seedbed.
$30.64 per 12.3’ x 32.8’ roll (includes shipping!)
Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or
order on-line.
(Discover, MasterCard and Visa
accepted.) |
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Missed an issue? Back issues of Texas Gardener’s Seeds are available at www.texasgardener.com/newsletters. Publisher: Chris S. Corby ● Editor: Michael Bracken Texas Gardener’s Seeds, P.O. Box 9005, Waco, Texas 76714 ● www.TexasGardener.com |